North American rights to Butler’s second feature film 'Handsome Devil' have been acquired by the distributor, with a limited theatrical release planned for this Summer followed by a VOD and DVD release.

‘Handsome Devil’ is produced by Treasure Entertainment in Ireland and premiered at TIFF 2016. It is produced by Rebecca O’Flanagan and Robert Walpole produced, with Rory Gilmartin as executive producer.

Since its debut it has also screened at BFI Flare among others, and has received acclaim for its comedic value as well as its LGBT content.

The story centres on Ned (Fionn O’Shea) and Conor (Nicholas Galitzine), two unlikely friends at an Irish boarding school driven by rugby culture. Moe Dunford (Patrick’s Day) and Andrew Scott (The Stag) also star.

John Butler, Writer/Director:
“As a forty-something year old guy living in a metropolitan area and working in the arts I think it is very easy to see one’s own position and apply it incorrectly to young people. I think the battle is still being fought by every LGBT kid in the world; the world is a better place but it is not a great place and it is dis-improving I would imagine, in light of recent events…There’s still no out premiership rugby player, there’s no out premiership soccer placer which is insane and highly disproportionate. Those are not imagined barriers these people are facing.”

Micahel Repsch, Breaking Glass Pictures Senior Vice-President:
“We could not be more excited to bring Handsome Devil to North American audiences from such an emerging filmmaking talent. In this modern, coming-of-age story, director John Butler has captured the essence of a generation and made a film that all can relate to.”